Tehran ignores world calls to stop uranium enrichment

Salaam Times and AFP


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, surrounded by officers, attends a military parade marking Iran's annual army day April 18 in Tehran. The Iranian regime is set to exceed uranium enrichment levels set by a 2015 accord, sparking fear that it is pushing to build a nuclear bomb. [AFP]

TEHRAN -- The Iranian regime is ignoring calls from governments around the world to stop its pursuance of further uranium enrichment in violation of a 2015 nuclear deal.

"We will increase [the enrichment level] beyond 3.67% to as much as we want, as much as is necessary, as much as we need," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday (July 3).

The Iranian government also threatened to go further and abandon more nuclear commitments unless certain countries involved in the deal help it circumvent sanctions, especially by letting it sell its oil.

A chorus of opposition

Russia, China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States are just a few of the nations calling for Iran to cease its activity.


A still from an Iranian documentary shows part of an Iranian uranium enrichment facility. [File]

"We call on our Iranian colleagues to show sangfroid, not to give in to emotions by any means and observe key provisions of the IAEA Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol to this agreement," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"This agreement has special significance for the strengthening of the [nuclear] non-proliferation regime," Lavrov said after holding talks with Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney.

"China regrets the measures taken by Iran," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a press briefing Tuesday (July 2).

"We call on all parties to view this from a long-term and overall perspective, exercise restraint and uphold the JCPOA [nuclear deal] together so that there won't be further escalation in the tense situation," Geng said.

"We urge Iran to reverse this step and to refrain from further measures that undermine the nuclear deal," said a joint statement signed by EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini and three countries' foreign ministers -- France's Jean-Yves Le Drian, Germany's Heiko Maas and Britain's Jeremy Hunt.

"We regret this decision by Iran, which calls into question an essential instrument of nuclear nonproliferation," it said.

In his own statement, French President Emmanuel Macron said he had "noted with concern" Tehran's overstepping of the limit set in the 2015 deal with world powers and called on Iran "to immediately reverse this overshoot and abstain from any other measure that would undermine its nuclear obligations".

US President Donald Trump warned Monday that the Iranian regime was "playing with fire".

The news comes amid heightened tensions after Iranian forces shot down a US drone over international waters and attacked several oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz.

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Greetings, I am Mola Bux Baloch, I want to comment that Iran must be given complete right of self defence; as far as strait of Hormuz is concerned, it is owned by Iran; Arabs, especially Saudi Arabia and UAE are acting as agents right now. Arabs and specially all countries of Asia should stand beside Iran at this time as everyone’s best interest is in unity with Iran. The people of one household must find a solution with mutual understanding in case of any disagreement instead of calling America as it was called for Kwait for fighting each other. There would have been a different map of Asia if they would have sought the issues out mutually. Even now if Saudi Shah Salman contacted Pakistan instead of Israel, and if he strengthened Pakistan, no one would have dared to attack or interfere. Long live Islam, Pakistan and Muslim World.


The steps may proceed with the same zeal; come to the best of the tasks; we are right here for you, O Khamnai!


Why anyone doesn’t look at Israel, India and the five superpowers before blaming Iran. Be it Iran or any other Muslim country, all of them should bombs stronger than atomic bomb so that the attacker may be taught a lesson. Saudi slaves should have been Kings of the Muslim World, but they want a lifestyle like westerners by populating the casinos and bars. Allah has given such motivation to Saudi public that is enough to make Salman sleepless. Every country has the right to be sovereign, however politicians of Pakistan are committed to damage the country. All of them come through selection, loot the country and leave. Mr. Shokat Aziz, Mr. Musharaf, Zardari, Nawaz even Imran is also not loyal to this country. They have turned the public’s life into a misery; they have buried the country under debts; they have turned the public to beggars. They get funds in the name of the public but such funds reach homes of ministers and advisers. Only a Messiah can save this country. May Allah protect this God gifted country because any minister or advisor of Imran, Nawaz or Zardari is not a friend of this nation.


I want to request the food department that inflation is at peak and labourers have no sympathizer; Flour mills offer minimal rates; so I want to take this news before CM through you.